I don't think it is masochicstic at all. I have a lot of piercings and a couple of tattoos. Does it make me special? Nope (I know that isn't the topic at hand), it is one of those things that is up to personal choice, while I enjoy piercing and tattoos it doesn't scream of masochism-.What does however (to me) is the extreme modifications mentioned above such as removing of extremities, digits, bullet scarification and splitting etc. I don't see the attraction and wouldn't take part in those mentioned. But like a lot of folks are saying it is all about personal choice. Masochism...I don't dig pain at all. lol so if anything ever hurt I'd of not continued, fortunately my piercer guy is fabulous (and a RN at that) and painless at his craft).